BubbleStream

Patricia Reding

SELECT

Synopsis

A Challenge Met.
A Calling Sought.
A Faith Required.
When Mara, Oathtaker to the ranking twin members of the Select, suffers an injury, her charges—Reigna and Eden—seek to determine their callings, while Dixon suffers over the potential loss of his beloved.
As their allies disperse in response to a growing threat to their homeland, and as the forces of evil set out to destroy them, the twins journey across The Tearless, where in fulfillment of prophecy, they face three challenges.
A single misstep may bring them to ruin; perseverance, to glory.
To triumph, they must first believe.

Author Biography

Multi-award-winning author Patricia Reding leads a double life. By day, she practices law. By night, she reads, reviews a wide variety of works, and writes fantasy. She lives on an island on the Mississippi with her husband and youngest daughter (her son and oldest daughter having already flown the nest), and Flynn Rider (an English Cream Golden Retriever). From there she seeks to create a world in which she can be in two places at once.
Oathtaker: The Oathtaker Series, Vol. One, won a GOLD medal in the Literary Classics Int'l Book Award Contest, also won an award in the Readers' Favorite Int'l Book Award Contest, and was named a Finalist in the Beverly Hills Book Award Contest. In addition, WindDancer Films has asked to take a look at it . . .
Select: The Oathtaker Series, Vol. Two, won a SILVER medal in the Literary Classics Int'l Book Award Contest and earned a Finalist award in the Readers' Favorite Int'l Book Awards Contest.
Ephemeral and Fleeting: The Oathtaker Series, Vol. 3, won a SILVER medal in the 2017 Literary Classics International Book Award Contest.
Sign up for Patricia's email list at www.PatriciaReding.com.

Author Insight

Emergencies

My preparing this Bubble comes at an interesting time, as I just returned home yesterday with my husband who spent the last six days in an ICU unit at an area hospital. For reasons unknown, he experienced a medical emergency that the doctors are unable to identify the cause of--at least just yet. The first few days of this experience had him in a semi-aware state. He couldn't recall from minute to minute what had happened, although he remained generally aware of his surroundings. It is a frightening thing to watch someone try to put pieces together. Even now, I'm re-telling him details from a week ago that he's heard repeatedly over the days, but doesn't recall. And so it is that I don't have to imagine the fear Dixon is experiencing in this scene. I've just lived it. How about you? Have you ever had a similar experience? It tends to re-connect you with the things of most importance: family and loved ones. Don't you agree?

Book Excerpt

SELECT

As she submitted to unconsciousness, her body went limp.

“Mara!”

She did not respond.

Fearing the worst, Dixon set his beloved down, gently. He leaned in, his face near hers, his fingertips at the side of her neck, checking for her pulse. His stomach turned over in a panic. His hands shook. He lamented that he stood in the middle of unknown country, having left behind all of his Oathtaker friends, and that he had not the power to heal.

There it is. Yes, there it is. She breathed.

Her head dropped to the side.

“Great Good One, help me. Don’t take her from me,” he prayed. He placed his hand under her neck, then turned her face toward himself. Though frightened, a sense of gratitude came over him. At least in this state, she didn’t suffer, whereas her screams of pain had been so intense. He took her back into his arms.

He bowed his head, reminding himself not to panic. For now, he’d do what he could: hold her, love her.